Nimocast PD16 is the investment-casting grade in Henry Wiggin & Co's "PD" Nimocast series, cross-referenced to the DIN designation NiFe33Cr17Mo. Unlike the higher-nickel Nimocast 80/90/713 grades, this is an iron-nickel-chromium alloy - iron content runs close to a third of the material by weight - with molybdenum added for solid-solution strengthening and titanium/aluminum providing gamma-prime precipitation hardening. Compositionally it sits close to the well-documented iron-nickel-chromium-molybdenum family typified by wrought Nimonic PE16 (roughly 43% Ni, 16-18% Cr, 33-37% Fe, 3-4% Mo, ~1.2% Ti, ~1.2% Al), and this record's confirmed nickel, chromium, iron, aluminum, and titanium figures are consistent with that family, though the exact molybdenum percentage for this specific cast grade was not present in the source data and is omitted here rather than estimated.

Alloys in this family were used for gas-turbine discs, bolting, and pressure-boundary components - including nuclear reactor internals in the wrought PE16 case - where a lower thermal-expansion, iron-diluted nickel matrix combined with moderate precipitation strengthening was preferred over the full-nickel Nimonic grades.

Nimocast PD16's higher iron content makes it somewhat less gummy at the cutting edge than the full-nickel Nimocast grades, but it is still a precipitation-hardened, cast superalloy and should be treated as one rather than as a stainless steel. Low thermal conductivity relative to plain steels keeps cutting heat concentrated near the tool edge, and the molybdenum solid-solution strengthening plus titanium/aluminum gamma-prime precipitates give this alloy meaningful retained strength at elevated temperature - the tool does not get the relief that comes from thermal softening at higher speeds. The as-cast structure adds coarser grains and localized segregation compared to wrought PE16-family bar, both of which are more abrasive to the cutting edge.

Work hardening is a real concern, though somewhat less aggressive than in the higher-nickel Nimocast grades because of the iron dilution. A steady, adequate chip load that avoids rubbing or dwelling is still important. Rigid setups, sharp positive-rake coated carbide grades suited to heat-resistant Fe-Ni-Cr alloys, moderate cutting speeds, and consistent coolant delivery to control both heat and built-up edge are the standard approach.